I remember a very persuasive man telling America, "Yes We Can." Up to that point I had lived in a completely different world, still deep in the closet, fearful that the world was not ready for my truth, extremely introverted, almost debilitated by social anxiety and clinical depression, living in a body that didn't reflect my soul. I cried when Obama was inaugurated because I finally felt real hope that America was making progress and was capable of change. Everything felt different, change actually felt possible, and for the first time in my life I felt halfway safe to start living my truth openly; marriage equality was now law of the land, transgender people could serve openly in the military, and the LGBTQ community were making tremendous progress towards gaining protections from violence and discrimination. It was during these years that my journey towards change made substantial strides. I came out to my family and publicly, changed my name to reflect my true identity, and started to create a network of relationships, all of which completely support me in my truth. My life had indeed changed drastically in a short time. I was happier than I had ever been, no longer living a lie behind a mask. The persistent, long suffering hard work of advocates paved the way for me to finally live free.
To read this blog in its entirety, click here.
